Liev Schreiber: ‘I Have the Kind of Face That People Want to Punch’

With a range of roles spanning nearly two decades, Liev Schreiber is ready for a change, but it's not what he initially had in mind. The actor sat down with New York Magazine to discuss his newfound appreciation for working in television, how his kids make him selfless, and why when you first meet him, you may want to punch him.

The Tony Award winner never saw a future in television, but knew that he wanted to do something different, saying that while theater stays the same, after “three months I go mad.” Picking up the role of “Ray Donovan” in Showtime's new drama, Schreiber said that he never considered acting in a TV show because, “I hate doing the same thing over and over again… but what's interesting about series television is that it is not infinite like a play. It is unknown and unfolds in the way that life does.”

While taking on new challenges, Schreiber also notes that when it comes to his kids, they're his number one priority. “I have been a very selfish person most of my life, and that shifts quickly and dramatically.” While parenting two boys, Sasha, 5, and Kai, 4, with long-time love Naomi Watts, Schreiber explained how becoming selfless came easy. “I am particularly lucky because I have exquisitely beautiful, talented, brilliant children. If I had ugly, stupid children, it would've been difficult to turn that corner.”

Speaking of looks, the actor also observes that he is no stranger to his own self-perceived facial attributes, making note that, “I have the kind of face that people want to punch.”